by Texas’ Arlington (AP) In Friday night’s preseason finale, the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Atlanta Falcons 31–13 thanks to runs and passes from Joe Milton.
After the Cowboys acquired Milton in a trade with New England and released Cooper Rush in free agency, the team’s poor performance in the first two exhibition games raised doubts about whether Milton was the right choice to replace star quarterback Dak Prescott.
Leading touchdown drives on Dallas’ first two possessions may have allayed some of the worries of play-caller and first-year coach Brian Schottenheimer. His one-yard scoring run ended the first, while rookie running back Jaydon Blue’s one-yard plunge in his first preseason game ended the second.
Milton went 18 yards on a planned run to convert a fourth-and-1 on the first drive of the second half. Two plays later, he threw a 29-yard touchdown to Jalen Brooks, giving Dallas a 24–10 lead. After Milton ended 10 of 18 for 132 yards, Will Grier took over.
According to Schottenheimer, he had a strong start. He was enjoying himself. He moved his legs. Brooks made a beautiful throw on the go ball. Tonight, he appeared much more at ease and content.
Both teams benched almost all of their starters, and the Falcons once again did not use backup Kirk Cousins or Michael Penix Jr. Tight end Feleipe Franks was wide open below due to a botched coverage when Easton Stick gave him a 23-yard touchdown ball, and he dived head-first across the goal line close to the pylon.
After missing two weeks of training camp due to injuries to his ankle and heel, Blue left the game in the second half due to an ankle ailment and did not come back.
Stick finished 20 of 28 for 198 yards and threw his second pick in three preseason starts.
Younghoe Koo of Atlanta missed a 51-yard field goal early on and then completed field goals of 38 and 28 yards.
Disgruntled star
Micah Parsons, a Dallas pass rusher, was there but notably uninterested. The 2021 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year was not wearing his No. 11 after deleting all mentions of the Cowboys from his social media accounts due to a contract impasse. Rather, he remained on the sidelines, in the background, wearing a sweatshirt.
Parsons once lay behind the bench on a training table with his eyes closed for at least some of the time. He requested a trade early this month since he didn’t practice throughout training camp. In the last year of his rookie contract, Parsons will earn $24 million, but he wants a long-term contract.
Big hit
Elijah Dotson began the Falcons’ last drive with a 41-yard run before being stuffed on fourth down from the Dallas 1 in the final minute, while Josh Woods made a massive hit on Jalen Cropper’s punt return in the first half. On 12 carries, Dotson gained 74 yards.
According to Falcons coach Raheem Morris, these games provide you an opportunity to witness some authentic, live special teams plays. You have the opportunity to witness one of Josh’s major hits. In the second half, Dotson entered the game and scored a few significant runs. Seeing those moments is always enjoyable.
Rude welcome
When he replaced Stick halfway through the fourth quarter, Ben DiNucci, whose only NFL debut came as a rookie seventh-round pick by the Cowboys in 2020, threw an interception on his first pass against his old team. The choice belonged to Robert Rochell. This week, DiNucci inked a contract with the Falcons.
Still kicking from deep
The last play of the first half was a 64-yard field goal by Dallas kicker Brandon Aubrey.During the 2024 regular season, he made a 65-yard connection, one yard short of Justin Tucker’s 2021 NFL record.
Aubrey had yards to spare when he made the kick. In a 31–25 loss to Pittsburgh on August 9, it appeared as though it could have tied the 70-yarder from Jacksonville’s Cam Littlein.
Up next
On September 4, the Cowboys take on Philadelphia, the NFC East foe and reigning Super Bowl winner, in the NFL opener. On September 7, the Falcons play the defending NFC South champion Tampa Bay at home in their division opener.
